Nairobi — The European Union is stepping up efforts to expand secure digital connectivity across Africa and the Indo-Pacific through major investments in undersea cable infrastructure–an initiative officials say is critical for economic growth, maritime security, and global stability. Speaking virtually from Brussels to journalists in Nairobi, EU Special Envoy for the Indo-Pacific María Castillo…
A three-year campaign to bring vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) to low-income countries has prevented 1.4 million cervical cancer deaths, the vaccine alliance Gavi said Monday. “An estimated 86 million girls are now protected against the leading cause of cervical cancer, thanks to a concerted three-year effort by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and lower-income countries,”…
Around the globe, corrupt actors exploit anonymity to hide stolen wealth and amass even more ill-gotten gains. Obscuring their true identities across borders and through mazes of anonymous companies and trusts, they hoard assets and rob the public of critical resources. According to a recent report, corruption is one of the main risks linked to…
Sars commissioner Edward Kieswetter Tax collections are expected to remain buoyant in the medium term, with the South African Revenue Service working on eight “generation projects”, including the adoption of new technologies and upskilling staff in AI, to improve revenue collection. Finance minister Enoch Godongwana delivered in his medium-term budget policy statement on Wednesday. By…
Unisa Enterprise, in partnership with the Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT Seta), has launched a programme aimed at equipping 30 unemployed graduates with digital and entrepreneurial skills to help them enter the technology sector. The initiative, which follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations…
Global Citizen has announced that its flagship Global Citizen NOW action summit will be held in South Africa for the first time on November 21, at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. The event, taking place on the eve of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, will convene world leaders, business executives, and activists to accelerate investment…
A quiet but consequential contest is playing out in the global financial architecture. One that could determine Africa’s ability to finance its own development. In recent months, powerful voices from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Paris Club and US investment bank JP Morgan have questioned the preferred creditor status of African multilateral development finance…
Mastercard is in late-stage talks to acquire crypto start-up Zerohash for between US$1.5-billion and $2-billion, Fortune reported on Wednesday, citing five sources familiar with the matter. If the deal goes through, it would be Mastercard’s one of the biggest bets yet on stablecoins, the report said, adding that the talks might still fall through. Mastercard…
Bern, Switzerland — President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa is hopeful of reaching a trade agreement with the United States soon, following ongoing text-based negotiations aimed at addressing the impact of steep tariffs imposed under the Trump administration. Speaking during a media briefing in Bern, Switzerland, on Wednesday, where he is undertaking a State Visit,…
France and Togo are co-hosting a conference in Paris on Thursday to support peace and prosperity in the Great Lakes region of Africa. A coalition of international NGOs will urge participants to step up their financial response to the “unprecedented humanitarian crisis” in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring countries. The conference aims to…
